BOARD MEMBERS

Meet the members of the AIM Leadership Team.

Carol RostucherPresident

My name is Carol Rostucher. It is difficult for me to write my bio on a constantly evolving life. I can proudly say that I am the mother of 2 amazing sons. My youngest son is Dylan; he is 16 years young, an honor student at Roman Catholic High School. He rows, and his quad just won City and Catholic League Championships! My oldest son Drew is a talented artist with an amazing heart. He is 25 years young and currently in recovery from the disease of addiction. There is one thing I truly hate – addiction. I must say Drew’s disease has taught me so much. I look in the mirror and love who I see, I am not afraid to be me, and I do not care what anyone thinks of me. I know unconditional love; I am not ashamed of my children in any way. I try my best not to judge, and to give everyone a fair chance. I have grown and met the most amazing people through this journey. Would I be this person today if my son did not have this disease? I honestly do not think so. Do not get me wrong – I really wish my son did not have substance use disorder. Unfortunately, he does, along with millions of human beings all over the world. This would be why I do what I do, along with all the volunteers of Angels in Motion. We are changing the way those suffering with the disease of addiction are treated, one life at a time.

Contact Carol at carol@aimangelsinmotion.com.

Karen Ellmer Vice-President

Most of my time is spent assisting with current activities, meetings, developing standards, and working on future goals for AIM.

This is a life that I had never envisioned prior to the past decade. My son, who started experimenting with drugs at the age of 14, has been in 7 rehabs, 2 suboxone clinics, harm reduction therapy, psychologist/psychiatrist sessions and is currently in a Vivitrol program.

Muddling through red tape, banging my head on brick walls, screaming into deaf ears, and showing drugs’ evil effects to blind eyes frustrated me to the point where breaking through the barriers became a mission. Unfortunately, money is always an issue and without it, there isn’t help.

No one wants to be a part of this group but the numbers are growing in epidemic proportions. I would trade this life in a second but sadly, substance use disorder is a lifetime disease. So until there is a cure, I will go on trying to save one life at a time.

Contact Karen at karen@aimangelsinmotion.com.

Ronnie Sue KaiserLead Outing Volunteer
Director

I’m Ronnie Sue Kaiser, the mother of 3, grandmother of 5 and one of the Directors of AIM. I also have a 9-5 job that pays the bills, but the volunteer work I do with those that suffer with the disease of addiction is how I plan on making a difference. I’m bull-headed, snarky, call-you-out-on-bullcrap kind of lady. I am also compassionate, loving and would give you the shirt off my back if you need it. I love sports, sitting with my family and arguing over whatever seems to be funny at the time. If you can’t laugh, you’re doing something wrong.

Contact Ronnie at ronnie@aimangelsinmotion.com.

Jackie RafterySocial Media Admin
Director

My name is Jackie Raftery. I have been married to Richard for 30 years. I have 3 beautiful children, (Andrew, Julia and Timothy) and 1 precious granddaughter (Anna). My husband has been in recovery for 24 years and my oldest son has 3 years of recovery. Living in a family with this life threatening disease is not an easy one. But I am so fortunate that they are alive and thriving. With the help of their 12 step program, it keeps them living one day at a time. Along with being a Director of AIM, I work full time as a Resident Manager of an apartment complex. I am an advocate of treating all who suffer from addiction with compassion and love. I am so proud to a part of Angels in Motion, who show all that are struggling with this disease Hope, Love and Compassion!

Contact Jackie at jackie@aimangelsinmotion.com.

Nicole O’DonnellFundraising ChairDirector

My name is Nicole O’Donnell. I’m a mom of two – an 18 year old daughter named Taylor, who is currently in recovery and doing amazing, and a 3 year old son, Joey, who keeps me going. I’ve been in long term recovery since January 1, 2009. When I lost my sister, Jessica, in December of 2014, I felt a greater need to help others believe that they are able to find their pathway to recovery. That is when I made the decision to become a Certified Recovery Specialist, which lead me to Angels In Motion. Since my journey with AIM started, it has been unimaginably rewarding. I could never fathom my life would be this amazing by being able to give back.

Contact Nicole at nicole@aimangelsinmotion.org

Barbara Peahota BurnsLead Outing Volunteer
Director

My name is Barbara Peahota Burns and I am a Lead Outing Volunteer for AIM. I have been married for 30 years and am the mother of two – Kelly, who is 18 and will be attending college in the fall, and Billy, 25, who lives in California and is currently in recovery from the disease of addiction. I am also the grandmother of two.

This disease has taught me to live in the moment, love unconditionally and take the time to laugh. Being on this journey, I’ve received more from our Angels In Need than I have given. My life-long commitment will be to work with AIM, helping to make our mission statement a reality.

Contact Barbara at barbara@aimangelsinmotion.com.

Brooke M. Feldman
Director of Recovery Support and Health Promotion

Brooke brings a wealth of professional experience to the Angels in Motion board. Currently, Brooke serves as the Director of Recovery Support and Health Promotion for Achara Consulting Inc, a national behavioral health consulting firm that helps state and county leaders transform crisis-driven, behavioral health systems into effective, recovery-oriented systems of care. Prior to this role, Brooke spent 10 years working in Philadelphia’s behavioral health system in recovery residence, treatment provider and Recovery Community Organization (RCO) settings. Brooke has also served at the systems level in a variety of roles for Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS). Brooke’s work with DBHIDS included system transformation initiatives, provider development, community outreach and training.

In addition to Brooke’s professional experience, Brooke brings extensive and valuable lived experience as a person in long-term recovery. What long-term recovery means for Brooke is that she has managed her wellness and abstained from alcohol and other drug use for close to 13 years, in turn halting the intergenerational transmission of addiction that claimed her own mother’s life at a young age. After spending her adolescent years in and out of institutions and Philly’s juvenile justice system, Brooke entered into long-term recovery at the age of 24. For over a decade now, Brooke has utilized her lived experience to inform all of her work in serving others.

Brooke is highly active in local and national recovery advocacy efforts through volunteerism and her writing for a local recovery magazine, the Huffington Post and Faces and Voices of Recovery. With having come to understand how higher education would only enhance her ability to best serve others, Brooke obtained her Bachelor of Social Work degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and is currently completing her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Pennsylvania where she also serves as President of the Quaker Peer Recovery collegiate recovery student group.

Brooke firmly believes that long-term recovery is possible for all individuals and their families so long as they have access to the resources and supports they need, when they need them and for however long they need them. Brooke sees her life’s work as always being focused on increasing the availability of, access to and quality of resources and supports so that others may have the same opportunity for the kind of life that recovery has afforded her and her family, community and the world-at-large.

Joseph A. Giandonato

Joe has over 35 years’ of contracts/grants experience which includes over 5 years as Deputy Logistics Officer, Director of Procurement Administration/Compliance, and Program Director supporting various programs throughout Amtrak, 12 years performing as Contracts Manager/Operations Lead at CH2M HILL, and over 18 years’ experience performing contract management duties on numerous federal programs. Other experience includes managing and administering contracts/subcontracts/grants in accordance with federal requirements, ensuring compliance with regulations, policy, and contract terms and conditions, preparing solicitations and proposals, conducting negotiations, awarding contracts/subcontracts/grants, performing post-award functions, and ensuring compliance to contract/grant terms with local, state, and federal laws. Joe earned his BA from Temple University and a MBA from Strayer University. He was born and raised in Philadelphia. Enjoy sports, music, and the arts. Joe has been a member of Angels in Motion supporting outreach efforts, business management, fundraising, and grant writing for 3 years after losing his daughter, Alissa, age 20, to an overdose.